Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Indian businessman Nandan Nilekani once commented to Thomas Friedman, “Tom, the playing field is being leveled” – a remark that inspired Friedman to write The World is Flat, a big-think book about off shoring and globalization that sold millions. Now, Nilekani has a book of his own, a definitive look at modern India, challenging traditional wisdom and exploring what is at stake in the world's largest democracy. Why is India's huge population also its greatest strength? How is information technology bringing the benefits of globalization? And the question on all our minds: in the showdown between the two emerging world powers - India and China - which country will come out on top?

Guests:

Nandan Nilekani, author of Modern India, co-chairman and co-founder of Infosys Technologies, one of the world’s largest IT service companies.

It’s been one of the most contentious parts of the federal government’s recent immigration policy: worksite raids targeting illegal immigrant employees, often resulting in dozens of detentions and enmity in the targeted immigrant communities. A byproduct of the Bush Administration’s failure to secure broad immigration reform, the raids were deemed both inhumane by immigrant activists and necessary law enforcement by opponents of illegal immigration. Now the Department of Homeland Security is about to announce a change in policy that will shift the focus of these raids from the employees to the employers that hire illegal immigrants. Will the changes placate both sides of the debate?

Guests:

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-NY (12th District, Brooklyn); chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Also, chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee and a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee

SHE CALL US: TBD

Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies

WHAT: Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and staff will cook and serve meal to 500 families. Molina will also join The Salvation Army in launching its “Project Shield and Shelter” Initiative to help families in need.

“During these challenging economic times, our families and communities are leaning on the County family now more than ever. And, we are pleased to continue our annual tradition of volunteering instead of taking a paid Holiday.” saidMolina. “I also encourage Los Angeles County residents to join us by finding ways in which to help others in need or to volunteer in their communities.”

The Salvation Army reports an increase in requests for housing and food from families suffering from the economic downturn.

With unemployment in California now over 10 percent, and the state suffering under record foreclosures, it is little wonder one of the Southland’s leading social service providers, The Salvation Army, is feeling the impact. Ninety-five percent of The Salvation Army’s 57 service locations are experiencing more first-time requests for basic needs, such as food and housing.

The Salvation Army’s Bell Shelter, is the largest homeless shelter of its kind west

for 126 years in the United States. More than 35 million Americans receive

assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broad social services

that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster

victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and

shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 83

cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 5,000

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk

Fact Sheet

April 21, 2009

Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education Election

The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) will be conducting the Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education Election on April 21, 2009. The purpose of the school district election is to elect two members to the Board of Education for a four year term beginning on or before the 2nd Tuesday in July following the election (July 14, 2009). (Arcadia City Charter Art. XIV §§ 1401 & 1403)

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

1 - Ballot Group

15 - Vote at Poll Precincts

0 - Vote by Mail Precincts

1,987 - Average Voters per Precinct

*29,811 - Registered Voters

1 - Check-in Center (CIC)

(1 RRCC field rep. & 1 RR/CC staff to transport the red boxes from CIC to

For voters wishing to vote by mail, the deadline to request a Vote by Mail ballot is Tuesday, April 14. Under special circumstances, a voter may request an emergency Vote by Mail ballot beginning Wednesday, April 15 through Election Day, April 21 at the RR/CC Headquarters in Norwalk. Additional information regarding this service or any questions regarding Vote by Mail voting can be obtained by calling the Vote by Mail Section at (562) 466-1323 weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or by accessing the RR/CC website at www.lavote.net

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VOTES REQUIRED TO ELECT CANDIDATES

When one member of the governing board is to be elected, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. When two or more members are to be elected, the two or more candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. (E.C. §10600)

TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office begins on or before the 2nd Tuesday in July following the election (July 14, 2009). (Arcadia City Charter Art. XIV §§1401 & 1403)

BALLOTS AND VOTING SYSTEM

All voting will take place using InkaVote ballots. Additionally, InkaVote Plus voting equipment will be available at all 15 voting precincts on Election Day to provide 1) error-detection for all voters prior to casting the ballot, i.e. allowing voters the opportunity to correct a mistake, such as voting for too many candidates in a race or casting a blank ballot and 2) an audio voting option for voters with visual impairments and/or voters who prefer translation assistance in designated languages. All ballots, whether cast at the voting precincts on Election Day or by mail, will be centrally counted at RR/CC Headquarters, 12400 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk 90650.

SEMI-OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS ON 4/21

On election night, semi-official election results will be available by 1) calling the RR/CC at the telephone numbers listed below, up until all precinct ballots are counted and 2) accessing the Internet at the RR/CC website listed below:

Semi-official Vote by Mail election results may be available at approximately 8:15 p.m. As precinct ballots arrive during the evening, updated cumulative results will be available and posted on the RR/CC website.

All ballots cannot be counted on election night. Election night results are always semi-official. Additional ballots are counted in the days/weeks following the election including: 1) Vote by Mail ballots received through the mail or dropped off at the polls on Election Day. Vote by Mail ballots must be individually signature-verified and then opened prior to tabulation; 2) provisional ballots cast at the voting precincts on Election Day by persons whose eligibility to vote cannot immediately be verified. Provisional ballots must be individually researched to determine eligibility; 3) damaged ballots that are unable to be processed through the election

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tally equipment and must be manually duplicated prior to tabulation; and 4) ballots containing write-in votes which must be individually reviewed to determine if the write-in vote is for a qualified/unqualified write-in candidate.

Precinct results will be available in the RR/CC Election Information Section after NOON on April 22nd. Telephone hours on the day after the election are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Telephone Numbers: Public (562) 466-1310

Media (562) 462-2648 or (562) 462-2726

FINAL OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS

The canvass of returns shall commence no later than the first Thursday following the election (April 23). (E.C. §15301)

The official canvass of returns shall be completed by the elections official within 28 days of the election. (E.C. §10262)

NOTE: On Friday, May 1, 2009, the RR/CC is tentatively scheduled to certify the election results. On Tuesday, May 5, 2009, the Board of Supervisors is tentatively scheduled to declare the election results official. (E.C. §15501)

TAKING OFFICE

Newly elected or appointed Board of Education members take office on or before the 2nd Tuesday in July after the election. (Arcadia City Charter Art. XIV §1403)

According the County’s of Los Angeles’ Registrar Recorders’ Office, last

Tuesday’s special election was estimated to cost the County $2.2 million

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – The Board today approved Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ request to direct the County’s Registrar-Recorder’s Office to report back on the costs associated with conducting special elections to fill vacant partisan and non-partisan, local government, legislative and congressional seats over the past decade.

The recent special election for the 26th District Senate seat vacated by the election of Mark Ridley-Thomas to the Board of Supervisors was the fifth election in little more than a year, in which County residents have been asked to participate. Yet another election involving the top finishers in each party will be needed to decide the senate winner.

“This many elections are needlessly costing taxpayers millions of dollars and contributing to `voter fatigue,’” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “This results in lower voter turnout, which is antithetical to representative government and is ultimately corrosive to a vibrant participatory, democracy.”

According to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder, just over six percent or 23,631 of the 390,409 registered voters in the senate district participated in the special election, which cost taxpayers $2.2 million. The Supervisor believes an “instant run-off voting system is a reasonable, cost-effective solution” to voter fatigue.

The report will include options, including the feasibility of moving to instant runoff voting in partisan and non-partisan special elections, available to the board and recommendations for legislative proposals to reduce election costs and voter fatigue.

Instant runoff voting combines primary and runoff elections into one by having voters list from one to three their preferences for each office that is up for election.If a voter’s first ranked candidate is eliminated, his or her vote goes to the voter’s second candidate as the runoff choice. The runoff rankings are used to elect a majority winner (50 percent, plus one) in a single election.

“The recent election results should give proponents of Instant Run-off Voting additional ammunition to make the case for election reform,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “We may have an opportunity to bring the technology currently available to us to address the issues of election fatigue, cost and low voter turnout in a manner that reinforces democratic participation.”

Final Actions: March 31 Agenda Highlights

(Unless otherwise indicated, vote was 5-0.)

Board honors College of the Canyons hockey team for winning the Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association title and Saugus High School girls soccer team for winning the CIF-Southern Section Division II Championship.

Report scheduled on status of state budget and proposal to defer/delay payments to the County, and recommended actions to prevent or mitigate such impacts. (Item S-1, 11 a.m.) RECEIVED AND FILED

Acceptance of $7.4 million of federal stimulus funding from HUD proposed for construction activities at 14 housing developments throughout the County. (Item 1-H) APPROVED AS AMENDED BY YAROSLAVSKY FOR MONTHLY REPORTS ON SPENDING

Agreement would assist in enforcement of child support cases by providing electronic recording interface between the County and the state for real property lien documents. (Item 22) APPROVED

Board asked to declare official the results of the 26th State Senate District Special Election held March 24. (Item 23) APPROVED

$716,160 proposal would fund 20 extra beds for provider in effort to treat foster children who are emotionally disturbed in a more family-like setting, and who would otherwise be placed in institutional settings. (Item 26) APPROVED

Proposal would provide Measure B tax funding to City of Los Angeles for providing trauma air transport in San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities. (Item 30) APPROVED

Maximum $1.5 million contract would hire engineering consultant to develop plan to reduce pollutants in the Los Angeles River and Ballona Creek. (Item 36) APPROVED

Board asked to establish “informed averaging” as the County’s methodology for evaluating certain competitive solicitations, and assure all evaluation materials are retained. (Item 55, cont. from 3/17) APPROVED, WITH DELETION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCLUDE AN EXEMPTION PROVISION AND CHANGE WHEN PROPOSITION A CONTRACT COST ANALYSIS BECOMES PUBLIC

Status report scheduled on automating file-keeping system for inventory in Sheriff’s Central Property and Evidence Unit, including number of untested sexual assault kits. (Item 56, cont. from 3/24) RECEIVED AND FILED, WITH NEXT PROGRESS REPORT IN FOUR WEEKS

Board asks May 12 report on election issues, including options to reduce election costs and voter fatigue, including instant run-off voting. (Item 57-B) APPROVED, AS AMENDED BY YAROSLAVSKY TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE REPORT

Recommendation calls for appointing Robert Kalunian as acting county counsel at annual salary of $234,591. (Item 57-C) APPROVED

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas recommends $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person(s) who killed USC student Adrianna Bachan in a hit-and-run accident and seriously injured fellow student Marcus Garfinkle on March 29. (Motion introduced at meeting) APPROVED

Supervisor Gloria Molina asks that Sheriff’s Department identify surplus property, such as bullet-proof vests or vehicles, that could be donated to Mexican law enforcement agencies to fight the escalating war against drugs. (Motion introduced at meeting) APPROVED

Supervisors meet in closed session to discuss litigation to prevent the state from deferring funds to the County. (Item CS-1)

Supervisors meet in closed session to discuss lawsuit filed by Drew University of Medicine & Science alleging breach of a medical school affiliation agreement. (Item CS-2)

Monday, March 30, 2009

How much risk do you take with your health and how do you decide? Do you actively avoid eating fatty foods, but pilot small planes on the weekend? Maybe you have unprotected sex once in a while, but only with someone you know. How do we gage the risks we take with our health and how do those rational and irrational forces ultimately affect our health?

Guests:

Dr. Peter Ubel, professor of Medicine and Psychology at the University of Michigan, director of the Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine;

Jonah Lehrer, author, How We Decide and Proust Was A Neuroscientist

Tune in tonight for KQED’s Health Dialogues discussion on this topic. It airs tonight at 8 p.m. on KPCC

[NPR NEWS]

2:00 – 2:20

Obama’s “Road to Hell” Takes him to the G-20 in London

What a way to set up an international summit: Last week the Czech Prime Minister, who also currently occupies the 6-month rotating presidency of the European Union, characterized President Obama’s plan to spend the U.S. out of a recession as “a road to hell.” Now the President rides that road to hell straight to the G-20 summit in London this week, where he will meet with skeptical European and Asian leaders who will not only be quick to blame the U.S. for the global recession but hesitant to sign onto U.S.-led solutions to the crisis. The President will need his patented Obama-charm to win over some doubtful leaders—but even if he fails, how badly does the U.S. need international cooperation to solve its own economic problems?

Guests:

TBD

2:20 – 2:40

OPEN

2:40 – 3:00

A Hollywood Classic

Joseph P. Kennedy, better known by the reputation of his sons John, Robert, and Edward, was the original patriarch of one of the most powerful families in American memory. Author Cari Beauchamp is here with his lesser-known story of equal parts greed and genius—how he rose to movie mogul status in the early years of the film industry, led the revolution in sound pictures, and created the blueprint for contemporary Hollywood.

WHAT: The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health, Alcohol and Drug Program Administration, PROTOTYPES Centers for Innovation in Health, Mental Health and Social Services, United States Health and Human Services Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and six other community-based organizations/providers will be co-hosting the two-day Seventh Annual Statewide Conference on Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) “Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.” COD refers to individuals who have one-or-more substance-related disorders as well as one-or- more mental disorders.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Coroner is seeking the public’s help with the identification of an unidentified male.

He was found on January 29, 2009 at 12 noon on the sidewalk near the intersection of Avenue “I” and Beech Avenue in Lancaster, CA. He appears to be a Caucasian male, approximately 60+ years of age. He is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. He has grey hair and brown eyes. He does not have any upper teeth. He was taken to Antelope Valley Hospital for treatment, but died the following day, never regaining consciousness. No wallet or other identifying paperwork was found at the scene.

Facial photo available for viewing at the Coroner Forensic Science Center

CLOTHING DESCRIPTION

ITEMCOLORSIZELABEL

Pants Brown 40x32

Denim jacket Blue XL

JEWELRY: None SCARS OR TATTOOS: None

Anyone with information is asked to please contact Inv. Daniel Machian at the Los Angeles County Coroner Identifications Unit at (323) 343-0754 or the Coroner Investigations Division at (323) 343-0714 (24-hours).

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2009 – 653 guns, including one grenade, were surrendered by local residents during the first weekend of a two-month expansion of the Gifts for Guns program, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The Gifts for Guns program allows County residents to anonymously and safely turn in guns and firearms to law enforcement. Since Sheriff Lee Baca began the program in 2005, over 3,000 guns and firearms have been surrendered in exchange for gift cards. A firearm that's no longer working can be exchanged for a $50 gift card, working firearms are worth a $100 card, and an assault weapon is exchanged for a $200 card. The gift cards can be used at Target, Wal-Mart, Food-4-Less, and Ralphs.

The first three collection events were held on March 28 and 29 and resulted in 653 firearms being surrendered, including:

Norwalk Sheriff Station: 197 firearms, including one grenade

Century Sheriff Station: 143 firearms

Lancaster Sheriff Station: 313 firearms

“I was amazed when I stopped by the Norwalk collection site on Saturday. Within 30 minutes, 18 firearms had been collected,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The men and women of our law enforcement agencies do a tremendous job protecting our communities, but enforcement alone isn’t enough to reduce gun violence on our streets. Reduction requires the support of the public, and successful programs like Gifts for Guns will help get the job done.”

Over the next two months, Gifts for Guns collection sites will be held throughout the County and will be open to any residents. Specific details for each collection event are available by contacting the individual Sheriff stations. Locations include: